By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The start of the year is often a busy time for the Ellinwood Food Bank, located at the Ellinwood Community Church at Seventh and Fritz. Patrons may use the pantry six times a year, and with the count starting over in January, the food bank typically sees a run of patrons in January and February. With no food drives in those months, Food Bank Director Tammy Sturn said that can leave the shelves a little thin and that donations of all kinds are now needed.
"Things like sugar, canned goods, paper towels, shampoo, laundry soap, noodles, and just all the regular stuff that people eat," she said.
The food bank also takes boxed items like Hamburger Helper and cake mixes. There are a variety of ways to get those items to the food bank.
"They can drop things off on Mondays from 3-5 p.m., or Thursdays from 5-7 p.m., which is when the food bank is open," Sturn said. "If they live in Ellinwood, they can shop at Ellinwood Family Foods and leave it at the checkout. They will give that to us."
Monetary donations may also be made at Ellinwood Family Foods or at St. John Lutheran Church. All churches in Ellinwood have food bank baskets where donations can be dropped. Other arrangements for donations can be made by calling (785) 236-0536.